Device for forming pleated curtains

ABSTRACT

A pleat-forming mechanism adapted to operate in conjunction with a lock stitch or chain stitch sewing machine to interconnect the false pleat disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,027,938 formed at the upper edge of a drape at periodic intervals. The device includes means for severing drapery material in strip form from a spooled fabric source, means cutting the strip to a length approximately equal to twice the length of the finished false pleat, means folding the severed strip transversely to its own principal axis, means for again folding the now-folded strip longitudinally to form the finished false pleat, and means for holding the false pleat in position so that the material forming the finished drape may be folded on either side of the false pleat, following which the completed three fold pleat is manually grasped and inserted in operative position for machine sewing.

United States Patent [1 1 Levenstein June 3, 1975 1 1 DEVICE FOR FORMING PLEATED CURTAINS [76] Inventor: Stanley Levenstein, 50-01 Rockaway Beach Blvd, Far Rockaway, NY.

[22] Filed: Sept. 12, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 505,476

[52] US. Cl. 223/28 [51] Int. Cl. A4lh 43/00; D06j 1/00 [58] Field of Search 160/348;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,027,938 4/1962 Lepow 160/348 3,661,103 5/1972 Tyas et al. 112/134 3,760,746 9/1973 Portilla 112/134 3,802,361 4/1974 Blockmu... 112/134 3,822,034 7/1974 Lawson 223/28 3,824,964 7/1974 Ryan 223/30 3,850,718 4/1974 Levenstein 112/134 Primary ExaminerGeo. V. Larkin [57] ABSTRACT A pleat-forming mechanism adapted to operate in conjunction with a lock stitch or chain stitch sewing machine to interconnect the false pleat disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,027,938 formed at the upper edge of a drape at periodic intervals. The device includes means for severing drapery material in strip form from a spooled fabric source, means cutting the strip to a length approximately equal to twice the length of the finished false pleat, means folding the severed strip transversely to its own principal axis, means for again folding the now-folded strip longitudinally to form the finished false pleat, and means for holding the false pleat in position so that the material forming the finished drape may be folded on either side of the false pleat, following which the completed three fold pleat is manually grasped and inserted in operative position for machine sewing.

7 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR FORMING PLEATED CURTAINS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In U.S. Pat. No. 3,027,938, granted Aug. 3, 1962, and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application, there is disclosed a curtain construction in which the normal three fold pleat positioned at the upper edge of a drape or curtain is formed to include a false center fold which extends only the length of the sewn pleat, rather than the entire height of the drape. This construction permits the saving of material equivalent to anywhere from to /8 of an inch in the width of the drapery material at each formed pleat, without substantial change in the appearance of the finished drape or its draping function. In the above disclosed patent, the false pleat is separately formed and manually stapled into the material forming the triple fold pleat, following which the pleat is machine sewn, and the operation repeated serially until the drape is completed. In practice, the use of this construction and method has resulted in assigning one operator to manually form the false pleats from separately cut strips of material, and another operator to effect the machine sewing operation. Further, because of the presence of staples penetrating the pleat, the pleat has tended to have a somewhat stiff and unnatural appearance when compared with more expensive hand operations employed in the custom manufacture of such drapes.

In US. Pat. No. 3,805,718 granted Apr. 23, I974, and also assigned to the same assignee as the instant application, there is disclosed a means whereby conventional triple pleats are semi-automatically formed by a device operatively connected to a sewing machine, whereby the pleats are formed in situ at a rapid rate of production using only a single operator. The disclosed device, however, is adapted to form only conventional triple pleats, and not the pleat construction disclosed in the earlier patent wherein a considerable amount of material is saved with a correspondingly lower cost in production.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Briefly stated, the present invention contemplates forming the individual false pleats forming the centerfold of a drapery triple pleat in situ, and as required from a narrow strip of drapery material matching the material from which the drape is made. The strip is automatically folded transversely to double the thickness thereof, and longitudinally folded to form the pleat. following which the pleat is delivered to a retaining or holding means in the location where the triple pleat is formed in the drapery material by the operator. The pleat is mechanically assembled, following which it is manually removed from pleat forming structure and immediately introduced to an adjacent sewing machine which performs a sewing function analagous to that disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,805,718. While the sewing operation is proceeding, a subsequent false pleat is formed in accordance with the above described steps, and delivered to the pleat forming location ready for the formation of the next pleat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation, corresponding to that seen in FIG. I, with certain structure removed for purposes of clarity.

FIG. 5 is a view in elevation showing a strip of material severed from a source of supply prior to the commencement of folding operations.

FIG. 6 is a similar view in elevation showing the strip of FIG. 5 after the completion of a first folding operation.

FIG. 7 is a similar elevational view showing the strip after the completion of a second folding operation.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged end elevational view as seen from the right hand portion of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevational view corresponding to the central portion of FIG. 3, and showing the formation of a three fold pleat.

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of a completed triple fold pleat after manual removal of the device, and prior to commencement of a sewing operation.

FIG. 11 is an end elevational view of a reciprocating member used to accomplish the folds shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view as seen from the right hand portion of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an end elevational view, similar to that seen in FIG. 11, and showing a protective plate mounted thereon.

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of a reciprocating member receiving a completed pleat illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, and maintaining the same in position during the forming of the triple pleat illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 15 is an end elevational view as seen from the left hand portion of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the member shown in FIG. 12 showing the completion of folding of the strip of FIG. 5 to the configuration shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view as seen from the plane 17-17 in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to that seen in FIG. 17, and showing the formation of the strip of FIGS. 7 and 8 from the strip of FIG. 6.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary view corresponding to the upper central portion of FIG. 1, and showing the severing of the strip of FIG. 5 from a supply means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: a frame element 11, a fabric strip supply means 12, fabric strip severing means 13, first fabric strip folding means 14, second fabric strip folding means 15, false pleat positioning means 16 and outer pleat forming means 17.

The frame element 11 provides means to secure the device to a work table (not shown) which table also supports a sewing machine (also not shown). The details of the sewing machine, and cams for controlling its repeated sewing operation form no part of the disclosure, and are illustrated and described in the above mentioned US. Pat. No. 3,805,718. The frame element 11 includes a base member 20 which is fixed relative to the table, and a wheeled upper element 21 which permits the operative parts of the device to be positioned conveniently with respect to the sewing machine once installation has been made.

The wheeled member 21 includes a pair of vertical end members 22 and 23, a horizontal member 24, vertical members 25 and 26 and an upper horizontal member 27 upon which the bulk of the supported components to be subsequently described are mounted.

The fabric strip supply means 12 supplies a continuous strip of fabric, normally the same fabric being used to form the drape, of a width approximately equal to twice the depth of the centrally disposed false pleat to be formed prior to positioning between the outer folds of the triple pleat. The false pleat construction itself, again, forms no part of the present disclosure, being disclosed in the above mentioned US. Pat. No. 3,027,398. The means 12 includes a supply spool 30 which may be reloaded a periodic intervals, the spool 30 having an axis of rotation 31 supported on a bracket 32, the lower end of the bracket being adjustably supported on a member 33 secured to the member 21. A continuous strip of material 34 is led from the spool 30 through a pair of guides 35 to the severing means 13.

The severing means 13 serves the function of measuring a strip of fabric approximately twice the length of the length of the pleat to be formed, and includes a strip advancement element 37 and a strip severing element 38 (FIG. 19).

The advancement element 37 includes a vertically oriented air cylinder 40, the piston rod 41 of which mounts a reciprocating jaw unit 42 which rides on a guide plate 43 which prevents rotation about the axis of the rod 41. The jaw unit 42 includes a fixed member 44 and a movable grip 45 pivotally mounted thereon adapted to engage the free end 46 of the strip 34 by swinging about a pin axis 47. The jaw unit will normally be open as it moves upwardly, and upon reaching the upward limit of its travel, means associated with the rod 41 projects through the fixed member 44 to effect a gripping action. The lower end of the strip 34 being engaged, the piston rod 41 descends downwardly a predetermined distance equivalent to the length of the strip shown in FIG. 5. At this point, the movement of the rod actuates a microswitch (not shown) causing operation of the element 38.

The severing element 38 includes first and second jaws 49 and 50, respectively, operated by air cylinders 51 and 52. Each includes corresponding shearing edges 53, and the jaw includes a member 54 cooperating with a resilient pin 55 to lightly clamp the severed strip, and prevent it from falling from a vertical orientation seen in FIG. 2.

The first fabric strip folding means 14 mechanically performs the transverse folding of a severed strip 56 about a medially positioned axis to reduce its length from that shown in FIG. 5 to that shown in FIG. 6. It includes an elongated folding member 58 (FIGS. 1, 11, 12 and 13) having a base portion 59 mounted for reciprocation by an air cylinder 60. Extending from the base portion are first, second, third and fourth times 61, 62, 63 and 64, respectively, defining a horizontal slot 65, one side 66 thereof of which is enclosed by a protective cover 67 secured by screws 68. The slot is intersected by a vertical axis slot 69 which forms part of the means 15. A reciprocating pin 70 is controlled by air cylinder 71 which projects rearwardly from the frame element 11 (see FIG. 4) and forms a means about which the fold is made. Comparing FIGS. 5 and 6 with FIGS. 16 and 17, the free end of the folding member 58 contacts one side of the severed fabric strip, and moves it leftwardly as seen in the drawings causing the jaw unit 42 to release the lower end of the strip first. When the pin 70 strikes the opposite surface of the strip, the folding action is started, and the lightly held upper end is released by the pin 55, allowing the first folding operation to be completed.

The second fabric strip folding means 15 again folds the strip 56 longitudinally with respect to its own axis to assume the condition shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. It includes a vertically moving folding blade (FIG. 4) mounted on an upper end 81 of a piston 82 of a vertically oriented air cylinder 83. Guides 84 and 85 position the blade 80 to enter the vertical axis slot 69, and engage the undersurface of the strip shown in F IG. 6 to move it upwardly and outwardly of the horizontal slot 65 (see FIG. 18). Continued upward movement moves the strip into the pleat positioning means 16.

The pleat positioning means 16 receives the now fully formed false pleat, and serves to insert it between the outer folds formed in the fabric forming the drape or curtain, and is best understood from a consideration of FIGS. 3, 4, 14 and 18. It includes a recessed pleat receiving blade having mounting means 91 associated with the piston of an air cylinder 92. An offset portion 93 is provided with a downwardly facing groove 94, the length of which corresponds to the length of the folded strip of FIG. 7. The lower edge 95 is adapted to be positioned as shown in FIG. 9 during the formation of the entire pleat.

The outer pleat forming means 17 is best seen in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 9 and 10, and includes a vertically mounted air cylinder 100, the piston of which supports a mounting member 101, in turn supporting first and second hinged members 102 and 103. Each of the members 102-103 includes a lower fixed portion 104 and an upper pivot portion 105. Resilient means (not shown) positions the upper parts 105 in relatively unstressed condition in the position shown in FIG. 9.

OPERATION The function of each individual cycle of operation is to provide a completed unsewn pleat as shown in FIG. 10 in serial fashion, so that it may be manually removed from the device 10 and presented to a sewing machine for the sewing cycle. Although each of the means 12-17 may be operated by a variety of mechanical devices and linkages, the illustrated embodiment contemplates the use of reciprocating air cylinders, each means being activated upon the completion of operation of the earlier described means by the contacting of microswitches closed at the completion of operation of the earlier means to cause actuation of each subsequently operating means. Operation of the severing means 13 may be commenced by the commencement of a sewing cycle, and by the time the sewing cycle has been completed, the device has formed another false pleat ready for insertion. Since the commencement of the sewing cycle is manually actuated, the device will complete only false pleat at a time, and maintain the same in readiness until used. In the alternative, the recycling may be initiated with the return of the outer pleat forming means 17 to its lowermost path of travel.

With the commencement of a cycle, the jaw unit 14 moves from the position shown in FIGS. 4 to its uppermost position (not shown) where it engages the free end of the continuous web 34 of material from which the pleats are formed. As the movable jaw 45 closes, a microswitch is actuated causing reversal of the air cylinder 40, wherein the strip of material is drawn to the appropriate length for cutting. With the arrival of the jaw unit 42 to its lowermost point on its path of travel, a microswitch is closed causing actuation of the air cylinders SI and 52 moving the jaws 49 and 50 together to effect a severing of the fabric to proper length illustrated in FIG. 5. With the closing of the jaws 49-50, another microswitch (not shown) is actuated causing the air cylinder 60 to move leftwardly, forming the first fold in the manner shown in FIGS. and 16. As the member 58 reaches its leftwardmost point of travel, another microswitch (not shown) is closed, causing the air cylinder 71 to move rearwardly withdrawing the pin 70. The completion of this movement closes another microswitch, causing the cylinder 83 to move upwardly, causing the blade 80 to enter the member 58, and serially fold the strip of FIG. 6 to the condition shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and urge the apex of the fold into the groove 94 in the member 90. Upon reaching its upwardmost point of travel, the cylinder 83 reverses itself and returns to its lowermost position, this movement activating the air cylinder 92, causing the member 90 to move leftwardly to overlie the means 17. This movement subsequently actuates the cylinder 100 which forms the pleat as shown in FIG. 9, from whence it may be manually removed in the condition shown in FIG. 10. The commencement of the sewing cycle returns the parts to their intial starting position ready for a subsequent cycle.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. A device for use in conjuction with a sewing machine for forming a plural fold pleat in piece goods along an edge thereof prior to a sewing operation permanently holding said formed pleat, in which one of said folds comprises a false pleat formed from a separate piece of material of a length less than the width of said piece goods, and inserted between folds formed in. said piece goods, said device comprising: a frame element forming a supporting means, a fabric strip supply means carried by said frame element, fabric strip severing means receiving a continuous strip of material from said supply means, and cutting the same into predetermined lengths; means receiving said predetermined lengths and folding same longitudinally to form a tinished false pleat, means received said finished false pleat and positioning the same at a pleat forming location', means forming multiple folds in said piece goods at said location at periodic intervals therealong, said false pleat receiving means being selectively positionable between a pair of folds formed by said fold forming means to complete a composite pleat including actual folds and said false pleat in juxtaposed position. whereby said composite pleat may be manually removed from said fold forming means, and subsequently sewn together.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, including second means for transversely folding severed strips of material prior to the longitudinal folding thereof.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 2, in which said second folding means includes a slotted reciprocating member having an axis of movement perpendicular to that of said reciprocating jaw element, and a reciprocating pin positioned in line with a longitudinal slot is said slotted reciprocating member, and having a principal axis perpendicular to said axis of movement of said slotted reciprocating member; whereby with the positioning of a medial portion of a severed strip of material between said pin and said slotted reciprocating member, and the relative movement of said slotted reciprocating member and said pin, said pin may enter the slot of said slotted reciprocating member, and cause said strip to be transversely folded thereby.

4. Structure in accordance with claim 2, in which said means for folding said strip of material longitudinally includes a movably mounted planar folding member, said second means including a second elongated slot therein, the plane of which is substantially at right angles to said first mentioned slot, said false pleat receiving means including a recess, said planar folding means upon reciprocation entering said second slot in said second folding means to longitudinally fold a strip positioned in said first mentioned slot in said second folding means, and project the longitudinally folded strip into said recess in said receiving means.

5. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said false pleat receiving means is selectively longitudinally shiftable relative to said multiple fold forming means.

6. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said fabric strip severing means includes a reciprocating jaw element engaging the free end of said strip of material from said supply means, and rectilinearly moving said free end a predetermined distance; and a severing means having a line of action perpendicular to the axis of movement of said reciprocating jaw, said severing means being operable at the conclusion of a reciproc ating cycle of said jaw element.

7. In a method of forming a pleat in drapery material consisting of a pair of outer folds formed in said material along an edge thereof, and a false pleat formed of a separate piece of material positioned between said pair of outer folds, the steps of forming and inserting said false pleat including: providing a supply of continuous strip material, serially severing said strip into predetermined lengths approximately twice the length of said pleat, folding said severed strips transversely about a medial portion thereof, subsequently folding said transversely folded strips longitudinally to complete said false pleats, and serially positioning formed false pleats between serial sets of said outer folds, prior to sewing said false pleat and outer folds together. 

1. A device for use in conjuction with a sewing machine for forming a plural fold pleat in piece goods along an edge thereof prior to a sewing operation permanently holding said formed pleat, in which one of said folds comprises a false pleat formed from a separate piece of material of a length less than the width of said piece goods, and inserted between folds formed in said piece goods, said device comprising: a frame element forming a supporting means, a fabric strip supply means carried by said frame element, fabric strip severing means receiving a continuous strip of material from said supply means, and cutting the same into predetermined lengths; means receiving said predetermined lengths and folding same longitudinally to form a finished false pleat, means received said finished false pleat and positioning the same at a pleat forming location; means forming multiple folds in said piece goods at said location at periodic intervals therealong, said false pleat receiving means being selectively positionable between a pair of folds formed by said fold forming means to complete a composite pleat including actual folds and said false pleat in juxtaposed position, whereby said composite pleat may be manually removed from said fold forming means, and subsequently sewn together.
 1. A device for use in conjuction with a sewing machine for forming a plural fold pleat in piece goods along an edge thereof prior to a sewing operation permanently holding said formed pleat, in which one of said folds comprises a false pleat formed from a separate piece of material of a length less than the width of said piece goods, and inserted between folds formed in said piece goods, said device comprising: a frame element forming a supporting means, a fabric strip supply means carried by said frame element, fabric strip severing means receiving a continuous strip of material from said supply means, and cutting the same into predetermined lengths; means receiving said predetermined lengths and folding same longitudinally to form a finished false pleat, means received said finished false pleat and positioning the same at a pleat forming location; means forming multiple folds in said piece goods at said location at periodic intervals therealong, said false pleat receiving means being selectively positionable between a pair of folds formed by said fold forming means to complete a composite pleat including actual folds and said false pleat in juxtaposed position, whereby said composite pleat may be manually removed from said fold forming means, and subsequently sewn together.
 2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, including second means for transversely folding severed strips of material prior to the longitudinal folding thereof.
 3. Structure in accordance with claim 2, in which said second folding means includes a slotted reciprocating member having an axis of movement perpendicular to that of said reciprocating jaw element, and a reciprocating pin positioned in line with a longitudinal slot is said slotted reciprocating member, and having a principal axis perpendicular to said axis of movement of said slotted reciprocating member; whereby with the positioning of a medial portion of a severed strip of material between said pin and said slotted reciprocating member, and the relative movement of said slotted reciprocating member and said pin, said pin may enter the slot of said slotted reciprocating member, and cause said strip to be transversely folded thereby.
 4. Structure in accordance with claim 2, in which said means for folding said strip of material longitudinally includes a movably mounted planar folding member, said second means including a second elongated slot therein, the plane of which is substantially at right angles to said first mentioned slot, said false pleat receiving means including a recess, said planar folding means upon reciprocation entering said second slot in said second folding means to longitudinally fold a strip positioned in said first mentioned slot in said second folding means, and project the longitudinally folded strip into said recess in said receiving means.
 5. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said false pleat receiving means is selectively longitudinally shiftable relative to said multiple fold forming means.
 6. Structure in aCcordance with claim 1, in which said fabric strip severing means includes a reciprocating jaw element engaging the free end of said strip of material from said supply means, and rectilinearly moving said free end a predetermined distance; and a severing means having a line of action perpendicular to the axis of movement of said reciprocating jaw, said severing means being operable at the conclusion of a reciprocating cycle of said jaw element. 